The United States has named diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis as its first official ambassador to Cuba in over 50 years. However, the nomination needs to be confirmed by the Senate, where it is likely to be opposed just like President Barack Obama’s outreach to the Communist regime in Cuba.

“Having an ambassador will make it easier to advocate for our interests, and will deepen our understanding even when we know that we will continue to have differences with the Cuban government,” obama said.
Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced a thaw in relations in December 2014. The two countries restored full diplomatic relations in July 2015.
US companies like Airbnb and Netflix now operate in Cuba and hotel group Starwood, acquired last week by Marriott International, opened a Sheraton in Havana last June.

DeLaurentis is currently the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Havana and previously worked in Bogota and at the United Nations.
But his nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, is likely to face stiff opposition in Congress, where Cuban-American lawmakers have sought to garner local support by opposing Obama’s policies.